Chapter 1: To Shock

"Harry!" Hermione yelled as she ran over the dark haired boy. He looked up, sparkling green eyes widening behind his thin round glasses. Seeing his friend rushing up to him, he sighed and rubbed a callused hand through his messy hair.

"Hey, Hermione," Harry sighed as his obviously excited friend flopped down next to him on the couch, positively beaming about something as she bounced slightly on the cushions. "What is it?"

She grinned at him, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "They put up notices about the Yule Ball today." Harry stared at her, wondering what this 'Yule Ball' was. She misread his look and grinned wider. "Anyone asked you yet?"

Harry jerked away from her. "Wha- what!" he spluttered at her. "What are you on about? What is the Yule Ball? And what would somebody ask me?"

Hermione's eyes widened. "You don't know?" The look on Harry's face must have convinced her. She began to giggle. "Oh Harry! This is too good!" Harry was getting increasingly annoyed at being left out. Some of the other students in the Gryffindor Common Room turned to look at them with curious eyes and Harry felt himself flush in embarrassment. "Harry, you're a champion!"

"That doesn't mean I know about everything!" Harry snapped, losing his cool for a moment.

Hermione quieted down, though still giggling slightly, and simply pulled a flier from her bag. She smiled and handed it to Harry who looked it over. Realization dawned on him like an execution date. "No," he breathed. Hermione seemed to find his reaction tremendously funny as she burst out laughing and fell back onto the couch, clutching her stomach as tears of mirth rolled down her face.

All the blood drained from Harry's face as he looked the paper over again and again. There was no way that he was going to go to this stupid dance to parade around in those dress robes Mrs. Weasley had picked out for him. No way in Hell was he going to go out in front of the school to waltz around stupidly.

"I'm not going," Harry said, setting his face in a determined look and leaning back into the couch, crossing his arms as he glared at his laughing friend.

"You don't have a choice," Hermione giggled. "The champions open the ball with their dates-"

"WHAT!" Harry screeched, jolting up from the couch to stare down at Hermione who had burst into laughter again. "What! D-dates! No way! No way in Hell am I-"

"You have to!" Hermione interrupted him, grabbing onto his hand as she tried to compose herself, though still giggling madly. "You have to go and do it! It's your duty as Hogwarts champion to represent your school. You have to do it."

Harry knew Hermione was right. Reading the flier she had given him had told him that he had to do it, no matter what. Feeling completely hopeless and drained, Harry slumped back onto the couch. But it seemed Hermione wasn't done with torturing him yet.

"So, thought of anyone to ask?" asked Hermione, practically leering at him.

With a very annoyed yell, Harry threw up his arms in frustration and stormed off in the direction of the boy's dormitories. Hermione smirked as his retreating back. "You'll get them tomorrow," she said to herself. "Tomorrow, you wont know what hit you. They'll come in flocks to get The Boy Who Lived."